The winners of the Rectorial Battle
Introduction
The photograph on this page of The winners of the Rectorial Battle by Richard Sutcliffe as part of the Geograph project.
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Image: © Richard Sutcliffe Taken: Unknown
The Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and also acts as the chairman of the University Court. Traditionally in the run-up to the election of a new Rector by students, those supporting the different candidates would take part in a 'rectorial battle' [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5714475]. In 1975 the battle took place in the quadrangle of Marischal College, between supporters of the actor Iain Cuthbertson and a student at the university (I seem to recall he was called 'Ben'). The aim of the battle was to get the opposition's flag from its position about ten feet up on the wall of the quadrangle. 'Ben' supporters were triumphant in the battle, but Iain Cuthbertson was subsequently elected Rector for the next three years.